Fire-escape.



D. F. YOUNGBLOOD.

FIRE ESCAPE.

APPLKCATION F| LED 050.3. 19w.

I LQ56$6 Patented 0ct.10,191,6.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

Attorney D. F. YOUNGBLOOD;

Patented Oct. 10, 1916.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

ma ma aoacse.

. WETED STATES PATENT QFFECEQ DAVID FRANKLIN YOUNG-BLOOD, OF SANANTONIO.

TEXAS.

FIRE-ESCAPE To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, DAVID F. YOUNG- nnooo, a citizen of the United$ates, residing at sea Antonio, in the county of 'Bexar and State ofTexas, have invented a new and useful Fire-Escape, of which thefollowing is a specification.

This in ention relates to an improved fire escape'of the chute typefandhas for an object to provide a device of this character, which willland. persons quickly and safely on the ground from various stories of abuilding, and which will not become congested or jammed by personsentering the chute from intermediate stories, during the passage ofpersons through the chute.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a practical devicewhich may be easily and economically installed or erected against theside of a building, and to provide a device which is particularlyadapted for school buildings, and the-like, where large numbers ofchildren have to be managed in case of fire, so as to provide a meansfor their quick and safe exit from the various .fioors of the building,to prevent congestion of the chute, the falling'out of persons from thechute during their passage therein, and to prevent persons in the chutefrom stopping at any point intermediate the ends of the chute.-

Another purpose otthe invention is to provide a means for protecting thechute and the persons in the chute from fire, should theflame issue fromwindows beneath or adjacent tothe chute, the invention in this respect,comprising a means for passing a water sheet or curtain down against theinner side of the chute to keep the chute in a cool condition and toward off the heat and flame.

Other .obiects and advantages of this invention will he moreparticularly brought out in following description of the presentpreferred embodiment of this invention, the same being illustrated inthe accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a building having the improved chute ofthis invention applied thereto. Fig, 2 is a horizontal section, takenthrough the top of the building and looking down upon the improved fireescape as applied thereto. Fig.3 is a detail fragmentary view inhorizontal section enlarged, of one end of a horizontal portionSpmification of Letters Patent.

from the upper stories I or landing of the chute and the connectingelbow, or angle section which joins the horizontalportion to one of theinclined sections. Flg. 4 is a longitudinal sectional view, takenthrough the structure shown in Fig. 3. Fig. 5 1s a transverse sectionthrough the horizontal portion of the chute, taken on the line 5 5 ofFig. 4, and looking in the direction of the-arrow indicated in Fig. 4.Fig. 6 1s a transverse section through the inclined portion of thechute, -taken on the line 6-6 of Fig.1. Fig. 7 is a detail sectionalview of the bottom construction of the horizontal portion of the chute,taken on the line 7-7 of Fig.3.

Referring to these drawings, wherein like parts are designated bysimilar numerals of reference throughout the several views, 10designates a building, shown in the'present instance, as being fourstories high, andhaving applied to the side'thereof, the improved fireescape.

The improved fire escape'comprises a plurality of inclined or verticalsections 11, a plurality of intermediate horizontal sections or landings12, and a plurality of angle sections or elbow sections 13, which jointhe opposite ends of the horizontal sections 12 to the respective upperand lower ends of the inclined or vertical sections 11, so as tocomplete the chute and provide "an uninterrupted passage from top tobottom of the fire escape.

Each of the vertical sections comprises a body of sheet iron,substantially U-shaped in cross section, and is provided with a roundedbottom, in Fig. 6. This body 11 of sheet metal is made of substantialthickness, and is held in U-shape by means of forms or braces 14 ofangle iron construction, one flange of which 11 preferably lies flatagainst the outer surface of the sheet metal body, while the oppositeflange extends outward to provide a reinforcement to prevent the bendingor buckling of the section 11. The upper edge of the body of which isbent as shown iatented Oct. 10,1916.'

Application filed December 3, 1915. Serial No. 64,865.

sheet metal ll is reinforced and held in place at each side of the chuteby stiffening angles 15, the vertical flanges of which lie against andare preferably r veted to the upper edge of the body 11, while thehorizontal flanges of the stiffening angles 15 extend outwardly from thebody 11, and lap over the upper ends of the forms or braces 14, as shownin Fig. 6. For the purpose of preventingsharp corners, the outer flangesof the forms or 35 flanges 20 are seated. as shown in Fig.

braces 14 are beveled, as at 16, and terminate beneath the horizontalflanges of the stiffening angles 15. It is, of course, understood thattheforms or braces 1+1 as well 5 as the body may be given any othersuitable shape than the U-shape disclosed. a

The landings or horizontal portions of the fire escape are, as shown inFig. 5, rectangular in cross section. The bottom of the horizontalsection 12 comprises a plw rality of rollers 17, which lie closetogether, and are provided upon their opposite ends with spindles ortrunnions 18 of reduced diameter, and which are journaled in bearings19, provided in a pair of vertical flanges 20 of angle irons, whlchsupport the bottom of the horizontal section 12. These angle irons havetheir horizontal flanges 21 extending outwardly from the rollers 17, andreceive 20 against their upper faces the outturned flanges 22 of thesheets of metal, comprising the body 12 of the horizontal sections. Thehorizontal section 12 is supported upon a bracket 23 secured to thesidev of the build- 25 ing 10, beneath the window 24 of the building,the horizontal section 12 being given suitable length to accommodate thevertical or inclined sections 11 irrespective of the distance betweenthe balconies or landings at the different floors, which balconies orlandings must be located adjacent to the Windows. The bracket 23 isprovided in its upper edge with opposed and inwardly Facing shouldersagainst which the vertical 0 irons of the section 12 rest against theupper edges of the brackets 23, so that the sides of the body 12 areamply supported, and the rollers 17 are firmly held from springingupwardly out of place. A platform 26 extends between the inner side ofthe section 12. and

the window 24, as shown in Figs. 2 and 5 of the drawings, the outer edgeof the platform 20 being preferably secured between the flange 22 of thesheet metal side of the section 12 and the horizontal flange 21 of thebottom angle. It is, of course, understood that any number of rollers 17may be mounted in the bottom of the section 12. In the presentdisclosure the rollers terminate short of the opposite ends of thesection 12 and smooth bottom plates 27 fill in the opposite ends of thesection 12, and are provided with depending flanges 28, which lieagainst the horizontal flanges 20 of the bottom angle 50 irons, and are.secured thereto by bolts 29',

These or other suitable fastening devices. smooth bottom plates 27,which fill the opposite ends of the section 12, provide suitablecontinuations of the bottoms of the adjacent 55 elbow sections 13, andprovide smooth and T he connecting or elbow section 13, which a is madeof sheet metal, is bent into substantially U-shape at one end into theform shown in Fig. 6, and registers at one end of the horizontal sectionwith the lower end of one of the inclined sectionsll, and at theopposite end of said horizontal section with the upper end of theadjacent lower inclined section 11. The body 13 of this connecting orelbow section develops throughout its length from a Ushape cross sectionto a substantially rectangular cross {section to merge into and registerwith the end of the horizontal portion 12 of the chute. This developmentof the section 13 is shown in Figs. 3 and 1 of the drawings, and is alsoindicated in Fig. 1 of the drawings. The forms or braces 30, which areemployed at the meeting edges of the sections of the chute, and at themeeting edges of the sheet metal which may occur at any convenient partof the sections of the chute, are provided with elongated or widenedbase flanges 31 adapt ed to overlap the meeting ends of the sheetmctal,as shown in Figs. 3 and a and are secured to the opposite edges of thesheet metal by rivets S2 to hold. the body of the chute to the form andalso hold the edges of. the sheet metal closely together. In thismanner, the meeting edges of the sheet metal are reinforced by a form orbrace having the perpendicular or outstanding flange or leg to insurethe rigidity of the body.

The stiffening angle 15 extends from top .to bottom of the chutethroughout all of the sections 11. 12 and 13, so'as to reinforce theupper edges of the sheet metal bodies of the various sections andprovide a smooth uninterrupted rail along each upper edge of the chute.1

At the balconies or landings, each section 12 is provided with anupstanding railing 33, which, as shown particularly in Fig. 5,

is secured to the horizontal leg of the stifiening angle 15 by a foot orweb 34: struck laterally from the lower end of the rail 33 and .rivetedto the horizontal leg of the angle 15. This rail 33 rises upwardly adesired distance above the stiffening angle and extendsthroughoutsubstantially the entire length ofthe section 12. At eachendofthe.

platform 26, a safety rail 35 is provided, the same rising from theinnerstifiening angle the straps hold the pipe 38 rigidly and.

. supply at the top supply pipe eral water supply 55 rolling floor orbottom,

arm 15 at one end, are

the line streams 15 and extendin inwardly toward the building 10, andleing secured thereto, as shown 1n Fig: 2. Thus, persons leaving thewindow 24 and passing over the platform 26 to the chute are held fromaccidentally falling from the platform 26, should the same ecomecongested in case of panic, or the like. V

The bottom of the chute is provided with an apron 36, which is curvedforwardly from the lower inclined section 11 and laps over upon ahorizontal ground landing 37 made of any suitable material for receivingthe persons, chute, and which is of suificient size and length to afiorda gradual stop for the persons delivered from the chute and to preventcongestion at the lower-end thereof.

For the purpose of protecting the chute from the heat of fire, a waterpipe 38 is provided, the same being supported beneath the horizontal leof the stifiening angle 15, at the inner si e of the chute, andextending from top to bottom thereof. lhis pipe 38 is held in place by aplurality of straps 39, which, as shown in Figs. 3, 4i and 5, aresecured to the horizontalleg of the-stiffening lapped around the underside of the pipe 38, and are riveted or otherwise suitably secured tothe body of the chute at their opposite ends, so that closely againstthe inner upper edge of the body of the chute. This pipe 38 is providedthroughout its length with a plurality of relatively small openings orperforations 40, through which is. ada ted to flow water from the pipe,the water being projected in fine streams against the inner side of thebody of the chute so that the water spreads, and merge into a continuoussheet or curtain, which flows down against the inner side of the chute,and trickles or drops ofi the chute from the bottom thereof. Thus, theinner side of the chute is kept in a cool condition, and flame is wardedoil, so that there will be no danger of the chute becoming overheated. 1it is a purpose of this invention to have the pipe 38 connected to thesource of water of the chute by a valve 41, preferably located inside ofthe building so as to prevent freezing of water in the 42, and to alsoprovide a second valve 4:3 located adjacent to the ground, which maybefurnished water from the genof the building or from a lire apparatus,suitably connected to the valve 43. If it is impossible to reach thevalve ll by reason of the location of the fire in the building 10,access may be readily had to the valve 43, so that in any event waterwill be supplied to the protecting pipe 38. In providing the horizontalsections with a congestion in the as they are delivered from thefquently necessary to for the rolling floor or the impetus of personswho are delivered from the inclined section 11 of the chute, andprevents any slackening in the speed of the persons passing over thelanding 12, so that other persons entering the chute from the landing 12may readily follow the person who has just passed over. the landing, andwill not meet any of the persons ahead of them. v

It is essential to give the inclined portions 11, a certain pitch, andas the Windows 24 in the buildings are are at different heights withrespect to the -different stories in the buildings, it is freelongatethe horizontal portions or landings l2, and in such instance, therollers 17 provide a means for continuing chute is prevented, bottommaintains the speed of the persons in the chute, without slackening thespeed, and for thus preventing any congestion in the chute, no matterhow long the landings or portions 12 have to be made. It is, of course,understood that the bottom of the sections 12'may be given various formsand may have other means than rollers, provided that these bottoms havethe anti-friction devices for carrying the persons quickly tion 11 tothe next.

It will be noted that the rollers or antifriction devices are located atan angle to the landings, thereby insuring in entering transversely othe chute;

Various changes may be made in the detail construction of the abovedescribed form of the present invention, without departing from thespirit of the invention, and within the scope of the following claims;

What is claimed is 1. In a fire escape, a plurality of inclinedsections, horizontal sections adapted to be arranged opposite the exitsof a building to a firm foothold difierently located, and

from one inclined poradmit entrance to the fire escape and joining whileafliording suliicient resistance to provide a firm foothold for enteringtransversely of the chute. 1 i

2. In a fire escape, a plurality of inclined sections, a plurality ofhorizontal sections arranged alternately with the inclined. sections andadjacent the exits of a building, said inclined and horizontal sectionsbeing arranged substantially parallel to the wall of a building, androllers carried by the horizontal sections and extending transversely ofsaid wall of the building, whereby to facilitate the travel of passen1's from one inclined section to the next,

3. In combination with brackets adapted to be secured to the side of abuilding beneath windows or other exits, said brackets being provided attheir topswith opposed shoulders, angleirons mounted upon the bracketsWith their vertical flanges sea-ted against the shoulders, transverserollers mounted at their ends in the vertical flanges of the angleirons, and sheet metal sides arranged along the side thereof, with oneflange of the iron flat against the body and the other flange extendingoutwardly therefrom, said. forms terminating at the, edges of the body,and eagles arranged along the edges of the body with, their verticalflanges on the inside of 'the'body and their horizontal flanges fittingotter the ends of the forms.

50111 a fire escape, the combination with an elongated chute adapted tobe arranged in e downwardly inclined position against theeicle of abuilding, of a pipe secured along the upper edge and at the outside ofthe chute, and provided with a plurality of openings which dischargetoward the chute, and means connecting said pipe with a source of Watersupply, whereby the. pipe is caused to deliver streams of Water againstthe outside of the chute to cool and protect the latter.

6. In a fire escape, the COHlblXlzllJlOIl with a plurality of inclinedsections, a horizontal section joining the adjacent upper and lower endsof the inclined sections, a series of rollers arranged in the bottom ofthe horizontal section with their HXGS transversely thereof, and smoothplates also in the bottom of said horizontal section at each side of therollers.

In testimony, that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have heretoailixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

DAVID FRANKLIN YOUNGBLOOD. Witnesses:

J. A. YOUNGBLOOD,

HULL YoUNonLooo

